L2800-L3400 PTO Making the right choice

[familyman]

This is a shame.
My L2800 gear has done alot of hard work, and in my opinion it's as tough as nails. The one failure that occured was dealer induced, and everything's been fine since it was correctly remedied. This over-running PTO clutch issue is casting a huge shadow over a line of machines that are otherwise very solid and reliable. Those who own HST units should get the parts replaced under warranty; prospective buyers should not shy away from brand new, upgraded units. Kubota is at fault here for not doing aggressive PR to admit fault and declare support.

 

[RayMunising]

This is a shame.
My L2800 gear has done alot of hard work, and in my opinion it's as tough as nails. The one failure that occured was dealer induced, and everything's been fine since it was correctly remedied. This over-running PTO clutch issue is casting a huge shadow over a line of machines that are otherwise very solid and reliable. Those who own HST units should get the parts replaced under warranty; prospective buyers should not shy away from brand new, upgraded units. Kubota is at fault here for not doing aggressive PR to admit fault and declare support.

This is a shame! When Kubota told 8226hamer the PTO on the L2800-L3400 isn't robust enough to handle a 50" tiller THAT is a shame!

I was told by Kubota that I would be better off, with my type of application, with the better designed independent PTO system that the B3030 has. I was told that this system that the L2800-3400 incorperates was intended to be used with a finish mower, bushog type of application. I thought is was funny that in the L2800-3400 information booklet Kubota puts out that it list a roto tiller as an accessory option.

When I was doing my research I didn't read any place where it said the PTO on a L2800 or L3400 is really only suitable for a finish mower or a bushhog.

 

[familyman]

Dealer salesmen, in my experience, are sometimes more interested in moving a more profitable item. Stating that a TRACTOR pto is there to run only a finish mower is rediculous and reeks of deceit. There were things to be owned up to in that instance, like installing the correct upgraded parts and informing the buyer - limit a real tractor to finish mowing? Gimme a break!
When I bought mine, I was told, correctly, that my tractor would run any PTO driven implement I wanted, as long as I used common sense and followed the hp guidelines for attachment size. Kubota has got to make this problem go away pronto.

 

[RayMunising]

Dealer salesmen, in my experience, are sometimes more interested in moving a more profitable item. Stating that a TRACTOR pto is there to run only a finish mower is rediculous and reeks of deceit. There were things to be owned up to in that instance, like installing the correct upgraded parts and informing the buyer - limit a real tractor to finish mowing? Gimme a break!
When I bought mine, I was told, correctly, that my tractor would run any PTO driven implement I wanted, as long as I used common sense and followed the hp guidelines for attachment size. Kubota has got to make this problem go away pronto.

I agree 100% with your gimme a break comment familyman! The idea that an L2800/L3400 is an overgrown lawn mower is insane yet according to 8226hamer that's what the Kubota SALES REP is saying NOT a salesman/dealer AND 8226hamer had his PTO fail twice, once with the original cam and once with the improved cam running a 50" tiller for 20 hours and although Kubota has redesigned the cam yet again (3rd design change) the SALES REP is suggesting that a B3030 is a better choice for running a 50" tiller than a new L2800 with the 3rd redesigned cam. So if the Kubota Sales Rep says the PTO is really designed for mowing and 8226hamer had his PTO fail twice running a 50" tiller for 20 hours and Kubota has redesigned the PTO cam 3 times now you gotta figure there's something wrong with the L2800/L3400 PTO and it isn't just a 8226hamer issue.

Please correct me if my thinking is in error. I really had my heart set on getting a L3400HST but something sounds very wrong. That's why I asked 8226hamer why the Sales Rep isn't suggesting a new L2800 with the new cam (3rd design which can't be installed in an older L2800) rather than a B3030. I was hoping the 3rd design solved the problem but it certainly doesn't sound like that is the case.

I sure wish they had a creeper gear option for the L3400 and I'd go with gears.

For all you guys who already own a L2800HST or L3400HST and think you might ever want to use a PTO implement other than a mower maybe you ought to get the phone number of the sales rep that 8226hamer is talking to and discuss it with him.

 

[IslandTractor]

This does not seem to be near the scale of Kioti's loader issue. We are talking about 1 major failure of possibly hundreds here on TBN. The more I think about it, I'm leaning to what Emmy71 says in that 8226Hamer's problem could be something else within the system that could be slightly out of spec. I'm guessing that Messicks is not taking your bait because he has not seen or heard of a problem such as 8226Hamer's. I talked with my dealer and he is not aware of any problems since Kubota updated to the larger cams. I'm not going to worry about mine anymore until I start to see more significant numbers of failures.

I agree if there is only one affected tractor that certainly doesn't compare to the many loader cracks in the Kioti CKs. However, none of the Kioti loaders ever actually failed and this PTO has failed twice so arguably it is a more important problem. Perhaps it is an odd ball event involving only a single tractor but in that case people like Neil should be coming to the defense of the L2800/3400 rather and sitting silent. It is also odd that Kubota has apparently redesigned the PTO cam if only a single tractor has had this problem.

 

[MDM]

For all you guys who already own a L2800HST or L3400HST and think you might ever want to use a PTO implement other than a mower maybe you ought to get the phone number of the sales rep that 8226hamer is talking to and discuss it with him.

Now there's and idea. How about it 8226hamer? Can we get a phone number? Kubota might realize our concerns if this guys phone starts ringing off the hook.

 

[swampvol]

Kinda sucks when you welcome a new member to the board, and don't feel as if you can recommend the very tractor you own when they ask "which tractor should I buy for these tasks.." Especially when you know that his tasks and lot size are a perfect match for the l2800/l3400.

This is killing me..I got 25hrs on mine, and was getting ready to pull the trigger on a trencher attachment.

So how about it 8226, do you have that #?

 

[tcarter1]

Being an owner of a L2800 HST, I have followed this discussion closely. While I haven't had any PTO problems, I sure would like to check with the Kubota factory rep. Looking forward seeing the contact info. posted.

 

[8226hamer]

Kinda sucks when you welcome a new member to the board, and don't feel as if you can recommend the very tractor you own when they ask "which tractor should I buy for these tasks.." Especially when you know that his tasks and lot size are a perfect match for the l2800/l3400.

This is killing me..I got 25hrs on mine, and was getting ready to pull the trigger on a trencher attachment.

So how about it 8226, do you have that #?

From todays discussion with Kubota and from what I was told, which is that running a PTO driven roto tiller can cause undue stress on a PTO system, Kubotas solution is to repair it until the warranty expires and then it wil be my problem. When asked if this is the best Kubota is going to do to remedy this problem, I was ask if my PTO system is working now. Yes it is now, I have yet to run my tiller, just a couple hours of bush hoging time since being repaired a second time. I was told they couldn't do anything unless it was broken. I'm sure when the cams go out a third time it will be because of my abuse or misuse of this tractor, which I have never done to any piece of equipment that I have owned. As far as this being an isolated case, think what you like, and hope it doesn't happen to your tractor. I know of two instances of complete PTO failure for now, and the tractors are the earlier model tractors with the old style system, but for me the system has failed and Kubota is doing nothing about it for long term ownership , except saying that it will be repaired for another year without cost to me. When asked to put this in writing I was told it states in my warranty guide that it would be, but it was funny I had to talk to the the divisions second in command to get this verified because my dealer said it would not be along with the field service rep. What type of problems is going to arise when it does fail for the third, fourth time? Maybe others will not have problems, but from what I have uncovered if you are going to be running any ground engaging PTO driven implements and you are the owner of an earlier modle tractor your system will have problems. The newer tractors with the one way cams I have no information that I can say because this is not the type my tractor has, so I can not say how the new system will hold up. I would think Kubota has found a solution for a weak PTO system by incorporating this new system in their new line of L2800-3400 tractors, but for those that were unfortunate to purchase this series of tractors before it was incorporated, as in the title of my original post, You made the wrong choise. Those that want a number, for legal reasons I can not divulge the number to the people I have been coresponding, but will give you Kubotas Coperate Office number and you can talk to someone in customer service and voice your concerns. 310-370-3370.
This is going to be my last post on a public forum regarding this matter, need I say more, but for those that has been following this thread I wanted you to know this is where I am at with Kubota in regards to settling this matter.
One other thing I was told is that an overrunning clutch is designed to work the way that it does on my tractor in the matter of the ratcheting noise it makes, which I responded fine, but it should have been placed on the outside of the tractor and not inside the transmission housing making it a very costly repair having to split the tractor to be able to repair it every 30 hours of this type of undue stress that it takes from running a roto tiller, actualy it was 2 hours the first time it failed for me.

 

[RayMunising]

Sounds like this thread has gotten to be to hot to handle. I just reread most of the posts. It'd probably be a good idea for anyone thinking about buying a L2800HST/L3400HST to read through this entire thread. Here's what I got out of it ...

The original PTO cam in the L2800/L3400 isn't too good and should be upgraded to the improved PTO cam that is available.

The original poster had the PTO upgrade done but it also failed using a 50" tiller.

One Kubota sales rep says the L2800/L3400 PTO system is good for mowing.

Kubota has a new PTO cam (3rd design) in new L2800/L3400 but old L2800/L3400s cannot be upgraded to the new cam.

The PTO system will probably be repaired under the powertrain warranty if you make enough noise.

It is unknown how many owners have encountered PTO problems with there L2800/L3400s.

Did I miss anything?

If you're a L2800HST/L3400HST owner and have used your PTO for non-mowing tasks with or without problems it sure would be nice if you chimed in here!

IMHO - If I own one of these tractors I'd make sure to get the improved cam installed, use the heck out of it (not abuse it) while it is under warranty and if it breaks get it repaired at Kubota's expense and trade the tractor in on a tractor with an independent PTO ... which is what the original poster is thinking about doing.

If I owned the tractor and the warranty expired I'd still use the heck out of it (not abuse it). It's a tractor! If the PTO broke I'd get it fixed at my expense and then trade the tractor in on something non-orange. I only allow a company to screw me over once ... my first and last Ford was a 1971 Pinto but that's another story.

I'd like to thank 8226hamer for sticking his neck out for posting his experience with his tractor. I've learned a lot and it has really turned around my thoughts on purchasing the L3400.